not sure how big the portions will be, but the menu looks reasonably priced for the selections that you get. I also like the music on the main page of the website. I often just keep it running in the background.

Pickled Heron is wonderful food and exactly the type of place I would like to see succeed on Frankford. I really hope people continue to support it, even if it means artists like new kenzo going there.

Since I finished that drug trial a week ago... I keep reading this thread as Pickled Heroin and picturing the wait staff is delivering pinky-sized packets of crushed up tan powder in spiced vinegar to diners in cocktail dresses and collared shirts.

I love when people moan about wanting a better variety or quality offering in the neighborhood and then balk at prices. And, HEY - isnt vegetarian/vegan restaurant food usually more costly than non-vedge? (but, I do agree the prices should at least start a little lower to get their customer base built up, and I fear they may not fare better than hot potato if they dont get more support from outside the hood)

The quality of the food I experienced at P.Heroin, was well worth the price and equal or better than good restaurants I try in center city, though I was deprived the fun of traveling and finding parking, so there was that :(
My vegan friend that had that dish, by the way, said it was totally worth it.

Veg options aren't usually more expensive [veg protein is dirt-cheap compared to meat] but I don't think it's unreasonable for a high-end place to charge more for seitan when the entrees are all in the mid 20s range.

Veg options aren't usually more expensive [veg protein is dirt-cheap compared to meat] but I don't think it's unreasonable for a high-end place to charge more for seitan when the entrees are all in the mid 20s range.

Oh, ok, got it. Yeah I agree. I just found in the past at veggie restaurants, they're not cheap. I think it takes more effort to be exciting w/o meat (in my very meat-biased opinion). Hey, Kraftwork adjusted their menu prices a couple dollars for a number of items before they were totally settled in. Now they're doing wonderfully, it seems. Hope the same can happen at PH

Frankford Hall is much better now that they've tweaked the menu, added happy hour, etc. It sounds like PH is pretty strong despite a few negative comments in the review whereas Hot Potato struggled from the start.

High but comparable to Vedge. At any rate, it's nice when a French restaurant offers a veg option.

true ($16 at vedge).
being a vegetarian, that's the only item on the PH menu that caught my attention. i'm glad they have good food and doing well, we sure need more eating places around here as opposed to drinking holes.
i'll get my seitan cheesesteak here:http://www.thebeesknees-vt.com/BKLunchMenu.htm
;----)

Went here for my birthday last Friday, everything was really good and priced about what I would expect from this type of place especially since they can't make their money on alcohol markup. Generally classic preparations with some interesting twists in every item. I liked the feel of the dining room, it was inviting in a way that you'd feel comfortable dressed up or down.

My biggest concern was that the place was pretty dead, though we ate early for the area and some more people rolled in towards the end of our meal. I will say they need more prominent signage though, I had driven past a half dozen times previously keeping an eye out and not seen it. Even on Friday, I parked on the block it was on and walked past it without realizing it, which probably limits the foot traffic that could stop in. Or maybe I am just blind, which is a distinct possibility.

Had a great meal at PH on friday, and was sad to see that it was so easy to get a table. They ran out of the calamari salad, and substituted scallops- paired with the blood oranges, it was amazing! The rhubarb stuffed gnocchi was a tart, and delicious pairing with the duck. I would love to see this place make it! Trying to pass the word onto my friends to come check it out!

went there last night for the first time, and i got the duck. i don't usually like duck, and i haven't had too many experiences with it, but this was the absolute best duck i have ever had. the skin was crispy and the flesh was tender... it was just incredible. i thought the rhubarb gnocchi was just okay, but i didn't really care because the duck was that good.

we split the charcuterie and the octopus salad between the three of us, and both were excellent. even the bread was delicious.

i was happy to see the dining room nearly full towards the end of our stay. we were there for over two hours, and people kept filtering in all night. the waitress commented that it was the fullest she'd ever seen the dining room. i really hope it stays that way. i will definitely be back!

—

“Try to learn to let what is unfair teach you.” – David Foster Wallace

Not a fan of peking duck. Well I mean I like the duck, but then they ruin it with that brown sauce and onions.

I had a nice duck loin salad at Plough & Stars, and also Hinge usually has some duck on the menu...pretty good. I think the best duck I've ever had was at Cafe Nola, years ago when it was actually on South St.

They just got another 'Meh' review in today's Philly Weekly.http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/food/reviews/
Take it with a grain of salt..It IS the Weekly after all..Barely above the Auto Shopper in the food review relevancy dept. But two lukewarm write-ups in a row have gotta sting a bit.

I will agree with them that putting a white tablecloth, uber-foodie joint so far outside of the Center City/ No Libs. gravitational pull is a long-shot gamble..

Not sure if our corner of town is really ready for it..Yet Loco Pez is going gangbusters..So.. I dunno..Maybe time to dumb down the menu a bit and make it more of a neighborhood spot ?? Glad I'm not in the restaurant business.. Its F'n brutal.

Not sure if our corner of town is really ready for it..Yet Loco Pez is going gangbusters..So.. I dunno..Maybe time to dumb down the menu a bit and make it more of a neighborhood spot ?? Glad I'm not in the restaurant business.. Its F'n brutal.

Made my first foray to Loco Pez last night and it was impressively busy for a weeknight. I loved the drink menu, but I gotta say the food itself did nothing for me (but at that price, not a huge deal).

I'll definitely go back, but not for the food. And great to see them doing so well regardless.

Forgive my obtuseness.
In the restaurant business, from my admittedly limited exposure to it, it seems that the first year of operations are always make-or-break. The odds against you are so stacked that you have to hit it out of the park on every single front (press reviews,waitstaff performance,word of mouth,location selection) in order to make it past the growing pains stage. Any less than favorable press, especially for a upper tier food quality place like Pickled Heron, is a potential death blow..Hence my 'F'n brutal' remark.

I'm totally pulling for them BTW , I want to have my birthday dinner there next winter.

2 bells from Leban isnt the same as, say, a 2 star movie review. He rarely gives anything 4 bells so I consider his 3 bell reviews about as good as it gets so 2 is pretty darn good. he's been reviewing this way forever. But it's funny, sometimes you read his reviews and he really doesn't say anything bad about the food and you expect 3 bells but he only gives it 2. This seems like one of those reviews. Most of his gripes seem kinda subjective (portions sizes too big, using more expensive oyster mushrooms and not cheap button mushrooms in the beef Bourguignon, they should use store bought seitan, etc). I'm also puzzled when he implies the prices are too high but only because it's in Fishtown - that shouldn’t have a bearing on the final grade. Never mind that everything else was great. When you read between the lines in this his review you can tell it will be a great experience. I can't wait to try PH out.

2 bells from Leban isnt the same as, say, a 2 star movie review. He rarely gives anything 4 bells so I consider his 3 bell reviews about as good as it gets so 2 is pretty darn good. he's been reviewing this way forever. But it's funny, sometimes you read his reviews and he really doesn't say anything bad about the food and you expect 3 bells but he only gives it 2. This seems like one of those reviews. Most of his gripes seem kinda subjective (portions sizes too big, using more expensive oyster mushrooms and not cheap button mushrooms in the beef Bourguignon, they should use store bought seitan, etc). I'm also puzzled when he implies the prices are too high but only because it's in Fishtown - that shouldn’t have a bearing on the final grade. Never mind that everything else was great. When you read between the lines in this his review you can tell it will be a great experience. I can't wait to try PH out.

This is a spot on analysis. And the bell ratings system also reflects price/value. If you are charging $12-15 an entree, the threshold for 2 bells is not necessarily as high as if you are charging $20-25. Because the former provides better value if the food is equivalent in quality. 2 bells for a new BYO is pretty good. His comments about service were very spot on, and if you don't have high quality service and highly knowledgeable wait staff you will never get 3 bells. And 3 is about as high as it gets for a BYO from Laban.

Most restaurants won't even get a review from Laban, he doesn't like to give reviews that would destroy a business, and most restaurants would probably grade out below one bell.

There's some great restaurants with 2 bell ratings, so Pickled Heron is in great company. The over all tone of his review was very positive and optimistic. What's most important to remember here is that Laban visits more than once or twice before giving a review.

The city paper and the like are often reviews by armature snarky young writers. And for this you can also look at their movie reviews and realize they're reading base are high school idiots that read for the gratuitous cursing and snide remarks.